Tasting Hour - Chilean Wines

Tasting Hour - Chilean Wines

We've had two great Chilean wine tastings in our Heswall and Frodsham shops over the last few weeks so this Saturday we thought we'd give you all a chance to taste some of the highlights! We're big fans of Chilean wine here at Whitmore & White, and after some searching decided to base our range around two really good producers - Casa Silva and Cosuino Macul. Based in the Colchagua Valley just south of Santiago, Vina Casa Silva as a winery was re-established in 1997 by Mario Silva, a fourth generation descendant from one of Chile's oldest winemaking dynasties. From the original vineyard site and winery in Angostura, Casa Silva has expended and planted new sites in Los Lingues, Lolol and Colchagua's first coastal estate at Paredones. The winery is the most awarded in Chile and we think their wines are fantastic, and incredible value for money. This Saturday we'll be tasting the Casa Silva Reserva Merlot, produced from premium sectors of Viña Casa Silva's own estates in the Colchagua Valley. This wine is ruby in colour, with lots of ripe plums and notes of coconut on the nose. On the palate, this Merlot is very fresh, with great acidity and soft tannins. There is a lovely balance between the fruit and the oak and a long lingering finish. Great on it's own but also a fantastic accompaniment to food, try it with duck in plum sauce! Our second Chilean producer is Cosuino Macul. Founded in 1856, Cousino Macul is the only winery established in the 19th Century that is still under 100% control of the original family. Six generations after founder, Matias Cousino started the winery, the mission to produce world class wines that are unmistakably Chilean still holds true. On Saturday we'll be tasting the Cousino Macul Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon. Antiguas Reservas is the emblem wine of the vineyard, with over 80 years in its portfolio. Since its debut in 1927, it has always been a limited selection of the best Cabernet Sauvignon of Cousiño Macul's vineyards. With an intense ruby red colour, this wines bouquet is clear and fruity, with a perfect balance between fruit and French oak, where prunes, blackberries and spicy notes stand out. On the palate it has great presence of ripe red and black fruits with medium acidity, rounded tannins and a long finish. This wine is the perfect accompaniment to a hefty piece of red meat! Come and try these fabulous wines with us on Saturday. Our wine guru Graham will be on hand in Heswall and Katie (wine guru number 2) will be with me in Frodsham. See you soon. Joe x